The summit of Heads of State of the East African Community (EAC) was held on May 31, 2023 in Bujumbura, to discuss the security situation in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) . Issues relating to the cantonment phase of the terrorists of the March 23 Movement (M23) were addressed in particular, after their withdrawal from the areas they occupied.
The Heads of State made a series of recommendations to ensure that local armed groups do not occupy areas ceded by M23 and foreign armed groups to be disarmed and repatriated. They thus ordered the regional force to work with the heads of the defense forces, the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) and other stakeholders to visit and verify in the three weeks the relevance of the Rumangabo camp for the pre-cantonment of M23 and other armed groups.
Rumangabo is one of the main military camps in North Kivu province and served as M23 headquarters during the 2012 to 2013 insurrection. Its position is strategic, as it is located in the east of the Virunga National Park, at near the road that connects the towns of Rutshuru and Goma.
The process of cantonment of M23 terrorists is continuing, after the announcement last April by the President of the Republic Félix Tshisekedi, concerning the establishment of a safe place for the cantonment of M23 near Kindu, capital of the province of Maniema. He assured that elements of the Angolan army would soon be deployed in eastern DRC to continue supervising the process of withdrawal of the M23, currently carried out by elements of the EAC Regional Force.
The Congolese government must redouble its efforts to stabilize its troubled regions and guarantee the security of its populations. National and international justice awaits armed groups to answer for their actions.
Information on the security situation in the DRC is available on the Fatshimétrie blog